University of Melbourne

Founded in 1853, the University of Melbourne is a public-spirited institution that makes distinctive contributions to society in research, learning and teaching and engagement. It is consistently ranked among the leading universities in the world.   

The university is like a self-contained village, with its own theatres, art galleries, bookshop, sports facilities, sushi bar, coffee lounges, shops, banks, post office, travel agents, etc. The inner city suburb of Carlton, full of shops, cafes and restaurants, is right next door to the main campus.  A five-minute tram ride will take you to the heart of downtown Melbourne.  

With 38% of the population born overseas and 140 cultures represented, Melbourne is extremely multicultural and welcoming of people from all backgrounds. With almost all food cuisines catered for, Melbourne’s food scene is world-class, and it boasts more coffee shops per capita than any other city in the world!

Available exchanges

The University of Melbourne hosts the University-wide exchange and Subject-specific exchanges for students in the following subjects:

Architecture
Business
Chemistry
Physics with a Year Abroad

Restrictions

Some faculties have subject restrictions. You should review the restrictions for your subject area:
University of Melbourne academic restrictions

Some subject areas may also have quotas, which you will need to check:
University of Melbourne academic quotas

Your responsibilities

The information provided here serves as a guide.
It is your responsibility to research whether the partner provides appropriate courses for your degree programme.
Even if there are no restrictions on your degree subject, this does not mean that there are appropriate courses for you.

You can search for courses in all subjects using Melbourne's handbook:

Search — The University of Melbourne Handbook

You can view courses that have been preapproved for incoming exchange students at the link below:

Search — The University of Melbourne Handbook

You can find guidance on how to choose courses below:

Selecting your subjects

Undergraduate students are only permitted to enroll in a maximum of one postgraduate subject.

Guaranteed accommodation?

University accommodation

There are a range of options, including residential colleges. Once the Study Abroad/Exchange application has been submitted, students can begin applying for housing using their UniMelb Student Number, and Melbourne recommends early application, which may be before acceptance is confirmed. Please consider the implications of this, especially if applying for accommodation involves non-refundable costs.

Information about University-managed housing options can be found at the link below:

Housing information

Private accommodation

Melbourne provides advice about private and off-campus accommodation options:

See more about off-campus accommodation

How much it will cost to go on exchange to Melbourne?

You will need to consider establishment costs, which may include buying furniture, paying a rental bond, and setting up electricity, gas and mobile phone accounts. Other expenses, such as visa and medical fees (including Overseas Student Health Cover – see ‘Health insurance’, below), as well as return airfares, should also be considered. Remember that exchange rate variations may also affect your budget.

Melbourne has provided the following cost of living guidance:

Cost of living

To estimate the cost of living in Australia based on your preferred lifestyle, you may wish to use Study Australia’s ‘Cost of Living Calculator’:

Study Australia Cost of Living Calculator

Visa considerations

The Australian student visa application cost has recently increased and may change again with short notice. As part of the student visa application process, applicants must demonstrate that they have access to sufficient funds to cover the cost of living in Australia. The minimum financial requirement is subject to change.

Please refer to the Department of Home Affairs website for the most up-to-date information on financial evidence requirements, visa costs and other visa requirements:

Department of Home Affairs’ Student visa webpage

Health insurance

An Australian student visa requires applicants to have Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the full duration of their activity. OSHC is a government requirement and cannot be waived with offshore health insurance and/or comprehensive travel insurance. Students from countries with specific government agreements with Australia, such as Belgium, Norway, and Sweden, may be exempt. Students are responsible for meeting the cost of the OSHC policy.

Study Australia: Overseas Student Health Cover information